Block assembly



Feb. 3, 1953 s. s. LEVY 2,627,176

BLOCK ASSEMBLY Filed Deo. 17, 1947 JNVENTOR. SQMUEL 5. LEVY HTTO/QNE YPatented Feb. 3, l1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BLOCK ASSEMBLY`Samuel S. Levy, Paterson, N. J.

Application December 17,1947, Serial No. 792,206

(Cl. 'Y2-42) 9 Claims. 1

My invention relates to block assemblies and more particularly to theconstruction of building walls Aor the like wherein precast blocks areemployed,

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a method and/or meanswherein precast building blocks may be assembled to form a desiredstructure and locked one to the other in a manner to resist Vverticaldisplacement.

Another object of my invention is to provide a structure of theforegoing described character which is easy of assembly and does notrequire the services of highly skilled workmen.

A further object `of my invention is to provide a vstructure of theforegoing described character wherein the wall of a building or the likemay be assembled in units and the units 'connected together by concreteto form a unitary structure resistant to vertical displacement.

An important object f my invention is to pro- Vide means of theforegoing described character which is simple in construction, durablein use, and economical with respect to fabrication.

With the above and other objects in view, as will hereinafter appear,the invention consists in the combination and arrangement of partshereinafter set forth and illustrated in the accompanying drawings fromwhich the several features of the invention and the advantages attainedthereby will be readily understood by those skilled in the art.

Referring to the drawings wherein like reference characters designatelike parts throughout the several views:

2--2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional View taken on the line A3--3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of one of the gaskets andillustrating a bolt 'and nut disposed in cooperating relation therewith.

In practicing my invention, as illustrated in the drawing, I utilizebuilding blocks, for instance, of the types known as cinder blocks whichare constructed in full and half sizes, with respect to length, andherein identied as full and half blocks 5 and 6, respectively. Theblocks are arranged in courses disposed and supported upon a singlecourse or foundation 1 of concrete to constitute a wall unit, the blocksof each course being arranged in end to end relation and with the facesof the blocks defining the ends of the jacent gasket I2.

courses terminating in aligned relation. In the present instance, theblocks of alternate courses comprise a ternary of full blocks 5, whilethe blocks of the intermediate courses comprise a pair of spaced halfblocks 6 with a pair of full blocks 5 interposed therebetween, whereby,the joints, occasioned by the confronting faces of adjacent blocks, ofone course are disposed in staggered relation with the joints of theadjacent courses. This arrangement of the blocks also `serves to providethe unit with courses of substantially equal lengths.

A plurality of the units are employed to provide a section A of the wallof a building or the like, the wall, in the present instance and for thepurposes of disclosure, being provided `with a similar section Bextending at `a right-angle to the section A at one end of the latter.The units are disposed in spaced relation and are connected together byconcrete constituting pillars or columns 8 united with the foundation l.Each of the blocks 5 is fashioned, between its ends, with a plurality oftransversely elongated openings 9 while each of the blocks 6 isfashioned with a similarly shaped single and central opening I0. Theblocks are formed on each end face with a channel of a shape that, whendisposed in confronting relation with a similar channel in the end faceof an adjacent block, provides an opening of a shape coinciding with theopenings 9 and II). rhe channels of the outer faces of the -end blocksof the courses receive the concrete introduced between the units .toform the pilllars or columns 8 for anchoring thereto.

Disposed -between the courses and the lowermost course 4and'tfnefoundation 1, are sheets or plates of perforated and somewhat corrugatedmetallic sheathing constituting elongated compressible metallicreinforcing gaskets I2 having -end portions extending into the pillars 8for anchorage thereto. The perfcrations I3 of the gaskets are elongatedwhile their end portions, which extend into the pillar between thesections A and B, are mitered. Each of the outermost end openings 9 andthe central openings Il) of the block' and 6 has disposed therein theupper end of an anchor-bolt I4, the latter extending through aregistering perforation I3 of the sub- The bolt I4 has sleeved thereonand in engagement with `the gasket I2, a washer I5 engaged by afrustrum-shaped nut I6 threaded on the upper end and which nut I6 isformed with a transverse opening Il. The lowermost bolts Yllt extendinto and are set in the foundation 'I and are provided, at their lowerends, with retainers I8, while the remaining bolts I4 are each bent atits lower end to provide a right-angularly extending finger I9 disposedthrough the opening I'I of the nut I6 of a subjacent bolt for connectingvertical series of the bolts together. As illustrated in the drawings,side faces of the blocks and pillars are provided with an overall layer20 of topping or finishing concrete to lend a neat and attractiveappearance to the structure and to conceal the various componentsthereof.

In use-assuming the foundation has been laid and the lowermost bolts I4embedded therein with their upper ends extending through perforations ina row of gaskets I2 disposed over the upper face of the foundation 'Iand which bolts are provided, at their upper ends, with washers I andnuts I6, the latter being tightened to securely anchor the gaskets tothe foundationcourses of blocks and gaskets are successively andalternately disposed one above the other on the foundation with thebolts of the vertical series extending through each course of the blocksand the gaskets, each bolt having its lower end connected to a subjacentnut and its upper end provided with a washer and nut disposed over agasket in anchored relation therewith to maintain the courses thusassembled in connected relation to the foundation. As the courses areassembled, the nuts are tightened upon their respective bolts to clampthe subjacent course of gaskets to the subjacent course of blocks and,inasmuch as the gaskets are somewhat compressible due to theircorrugated construction, the blocks will be secured in tensionengagement with the gaskets and thus present an extremely rigidconstruction which is resistant to vertical displacement. Forms of adesired character, for instance boards, are initially employed andsecured to the side faces of the blocks between the units and concreteis then introduced between the units to for-m the pillars 8. When theconcrete, forming the pillars, has become set, the forms are removed andthe layer 2o of topping or finishing concrete is applied to the sidefaces of the blocks and pillars to provide the aforementioned neat andattractive appearance and to conceal the various components of thestructure.

In view of the foregoing, it will be apparent that one of the wall unitsmay be utilized without additional units or pillars and that, in thefabrication of a wall, each of the units are of a sufficient rigidity,when secured to the foundation by the bolts, to be maintained in uprightposition against displacement without the use of pillars. K

Inasmuch as the gaskets are provided with longitudinal uniform sideedges, the blocks may be assembled upon the gaskets with their sidefaces in flush relation with the side edges of the gaskets, thusenabling unskilled Workmen to align the blocks without the use ofinstruments or lines.

Without further elaboration, the foregoing will so fully explain theinvention that others may, by applying current knowledge, readily adaptthe same for use under various conditions of service. Moreover, it isnot indispensable that all the features of the invention be usedconjointly since they may be employed advantageously in variouscombinations and subcombinations.

It is obvious that the invention is not conned to the herein describeduse therefore as it may be utilized for any purpose to which it isadaptable. It is therefore to be understood that the '4 invention is notlimited to the specific construction as illustrated and described, asthe same is only illustrative of the principles involved which arecapable of extended application in various forms, and the inventioncomprehends all construction within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a building construction, a plurality of spaced wall units eachformed with courses of rigid blocks, compressible gaskets disposedbetween said courses, anchoring means carried by said gaskets andextending through said courses and connecting the blocks and gasketstogether in anchored relation against vertical displacement, and meansconnected to the end blocks of adjacent units and the ends of thegaskets disposed between said end blocks anchoring said units togetherto form a wall, said anchoring means being effective for maintainingsaid blocks in compressive engagement with said gaskets to rigidify saidwall.

2. In a building construction, a plurality of spaced wall units eachformed with courses of concrete blocks with the joints of the blocks ofone course being staggered with relation to the joints of the blocks ofthe adjacent courses, compressible gaskets disposed between saidcourses, bolt and nut assemblies carried by said gaskets and extendingthrough said courses and connecting the blocks and gaskets together inpaired and anchored relation against vertical displacement, and concretepillars connected to the end blocks of adjacent units and havingembedded therein the ends of the gaskets disposed between said endblocks anchoring said units together to form a wall, said assembliesbeing effective for maintaining said blocks in compressive engagementwith said gaskets to rigidify said wall.

8. In a building construction, a foundation constituting a course, aplurality of spaced Wall units mounted on said foundation and with eachunit formed with courses of concrete blocks, compressible gasketsdisposed between said courses, anchoring means carried by said gasketsand extending through said courses and connecting the blocks and gasketstogether in anchored relation to said foundation against verticaldisplacement, and concrete means connected to the end blocks of adjacentunits and the ends of the gaskets disposed between said coursesanchoring said units to said foundation to form a wall, said anchoringmeans being effective for maintaining said blocks in compressiveengagement with said gaskets to rigidify said Wall.

4. In a building construction, a foundation constituting a course, aplurality of spaced wall units mounted on said foundation and with eachunit formed with courses of concrete blocks with the joints of theblocks of one course being staggered with relation to the joints of theblocks of the adjacent courses, compressible gaskets disposed betweensaid courses, bolt and nut assemblies carried by said gaskets andextending through said courses and connecting the blocks and gasketstogether in paired and anchored relation to said foundation againstvertical displacement, and concrete Vpillars connected to the end blocksof adjacent units and having embedded therein the ends of the gasketsdisposed between said courses anchoring said units to said foundation toform a wall, said assemblies being eiective for maintaining said blocksin compressive engagement with said gaskets to rigidify said wall.

5. In a building construction, a foundation constituting a course, aplurality of spaced Wall units mounted on said foundation and with eachunit formed with courses of rigid blocks, compressible gaskets disposedbetween said courses, bolt and nut assemblies carried by said gasketsand extending through said courses and connecting the blocks and gasketstogether in anchored relation to said foundation against verticaldisplacement, and means coacting with said assemblies and connected tothe end blocks of adiacent units and the ends of the gaskets disposedbetween said courses anchoring said units to said foundation to form awall, said assemblies being effective for maintaining said blocks incompressive engagement with said gaskets to rigidiiy said wall.

6. In a building construction, a foundation constituting a course, aplurality of spaced wall units mounted on said foundation and with eachunit formed with courses of manually assembled concrete blocks, gasketsdisposed between said courses, tie means carried by said gaskets andextending through said courses and connecting the blocks and gasketstogether in fixed relation to said foundation against verticaldisplacement, and concrete means xed to said foundation and coactingwith said tie means and connected to the end blocks of adjacent unitsand the ends oi the gaskets disposed between said courses anchoring saidunits to said foundation to form a Wall, said gaskets comprisingcorrugated sheathing capable of being compressed between said courses bysaid tie means to rigidify said wall.

7. In a building construction, a foundation constituting a course, aplurality oi spaced Wall units mounted on said foundation and with eachunit formed with courses of manually assembled concrete blocks, gasketsdisposed between said courses, tie means carried by said gaskets andextending through said courses and connecting the blocks and gasketstogether in fixed relation to said foundation against verticaldisplacement, concrete means fixed to said foundation and co acting withsaid tie means and connected to the end blocks of adjacent units and theends of the gaskets disposed between said courses anchoring said unitsto said foundation to form a wall, said gaskets comprising corrugatedsheathing capable of being compressed between said courses by said tiemeans to rigidify said wall, and means secured over exposed faces ofsaid units concealing the latter and lending a neat appearance to saidwall.

8. In a building wall construction, courses o1 rigid blocks,eompressible gaskets disposed between said courses, nuts seated on saidgaskets, bolts extending through said courses and connecting said nutstogether in grouped arrangement one above another and with said rods andsaid nuts maintaining said blocks in compressive engagement with saidgaskets to rigidify said wall.

9. In a building Wall construction, courses of rigid blocks havingopenings extending therethrough in vertical registry, compressiblegaskets disposed between said courses and provided with apertures, nutsseated on said gaskets within said openings and the confines of saidblocks, bolts extending through said openings and apertures andconnecting said nus together in grouped arrangement one above anotherand with said rods and said nuts maintaining said blocks in coinpressiveengagement with said gaskets to rigidify said Wall.

SAMUEL S. LEVY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 835,334 Tennigkeit Nov. 6, 19061,646,312 Perkins et al Oct. 28, 1927 1,819,512 Isaacson Aug. 18, 19311,953,154 Cram Apr. 3, 1934 1,972,475 Davison Sept. 4, 1934 2,114,996Nyhagen, Jr Apr. 19, 1938 2,175,213 Duffy Oct. 17, 1939 2,184,137 BrewerDec. 19, 1939 2,241,169 Yokes May 6, 1941 2,340,263 Dodson Jan. 25, 1944FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 182,497 Germany 1907 100,537 SwedenDec. 23, 1940 571,186 Great Britain Aug. 10,` 1945

